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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/media/2018/aug/21/more-filming-in-british-courts-is-inevitable-says-news-producer
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| Coverage of UK court proceedings inevitable, says top TV executive | Coverage of UK court proceedings inevitable, says top TV executive |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| A senior ITN executive has said it is inevitable that British court proceedings will be televised and has called for the government to allow greater use of cameras in court. | A senior ITN executive has said it is inevitable that British court proceedings will be televised and has called for the government to allow greater use of cameras in court. |
| The public had the right to understand the outcome of complicated cases, such as those involving the far-right activist Tommy Robinson, according to John Battle, the head of compliance for ITN, who has helped lead the push for filming of high court proceedings. | The public had the right to understand the outcome of complicated cases, such as those involving the far-right activist Tommy Robinson, according to John Battle, the head of compliance for ITN, who has helped lead the push for filming of high court proceedings. |
| “There will be protocols and safeguards in place to protect witnesses but it is inevitable there will be more filming in the courts in time to come,” said Battle. “We have now filmed in quite a number of courts and there’s not really been any negatives. We’ve shown that proceedings are not disruptive and people aren’t put off from coming to court.” | “There will be protocols and safeguards in place to protect witnesses but it is inevitable there will be more filming in the courts in time to come,” said Battle. “We have now filmed in quite a number of courts and there’s not really been any negatives. We’ve shown that proceedings are not disruptive and people aren’t put off from coming to court.” |
| Battle, whose company produces the news for ITV, Channel 4, and Channel 5, has been involved in the long-running push to allow cameras into crown courts to film the most high-profile cases. | Battle, whose company produces the news for ITV, Channel 4, and Channel 5, has been involved in the long-running push to allow cameras into crown courts to film the most high-profile cases. |
| British courts previously had strict laws banning the use of recording equipment, forcing the public to rely on court reporters with the occasional drawing by a court artist to provide visual context. However, filming has been allowed in the supreme court since it began operating in 2009 and cameras have been allowed into the court of appeal since 2013. | British courts previously had strict laws banning the use of recording equipment, forcing the public to rely on court reporters with the occasional drawing by a court artist to provide visual context. However, filming has been allowed in the supreme court since it began operating in 2009 and cameras have been allowed into the court of appeal since 2013. |
| Last year in a pilot programme the BBC, ITN, Sky News and the Press Association filmed sentencing remarks by judges at crown courts across the country on the condition the footage was never used. The results have now been submitted to the Ministry of Justice and the judiciary for further consideration, with broadcasters hopeful of a change in the law. | Last year in a pilot programme the BBC, ITN, Sky News and the Press Association filmed sentencing remarks by judges at crown courts across the country on the condition the footage was never used. The results have now been submitted to the Ministry of Justice and the judiciary for further consideration, with broadcasters hopeful of a change in the law. |
| As a result of the campaign for greater access to proceedings ITV will on Thursday air Inside the Court of Appeal, the first documentary to use courtroom footage. It combines video of proceedings with interviews featuring the individuals and lawyers involved in appeal cases. | |
| Battle said the judge would always be in charge of what and who was filmed during a court proceedings, with protections for children and people in distress. In addition the broadcasters are restricted to cameras in fixed places and “we’re not showing reaction shots”. | Battle said the judge would always be in charge of what and who was filmed during a court proceedings, with protections for children and people in distress. In addition the broadcasters are restricted to cameras in fixed places and “we’re not showing reaction shots”. |
| But he said the existing rules had already allowed the media to show important cases – such as the appeal of far-right activist Tommy Robinson against his contempt of court conviction: “In that case the lord chief justice gave his judgment in open court. Part of the media’s job is to untangle doubts or misunderstandings by showing what’s going on in the court and giving an account of the reason the judgment was made.” | But he said the existing rules had already allowed the media to show important cases – such as the appeal of far-right activist Tommy Robinson against his contempt of court conviction: “In that case the lord chief justice gave his judgment in open court. Part of the media’s job is to untangle doubts or misunderstandings by showing what’s going on in the court and giving an account of the reason the judgment was made.” |
| Earlier this week the government’s victims’ commissioner told the Sunday Telegraph that introducing cameras could improve the justice system. “Hopefully, it might change the behaviours of some of the key participants, such as aggressive barristers or defendants who show contempt for the justice process,” said Lady Newlove, who was appointed to the role after her husband, Garry, was beaten to death. | Earlier this week the government’s victims’ commissioner told the Sunday Telegraph that introducing cameras could improve the justice system. “Hopefully, it might change the behaviours of some of the key participants, such as aggressive barristers or defendants who show contempt for the justice process,” said Lady Newlove, who was appointed to the role after her husband, Garry, was beaten to death. |
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